Paul Brings the Politics to Get a Free Ride to Rome
But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!”
As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
And there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
And as a great dissension was developing, the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.
But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.””
Context is the best way to interpret scripture.
Remember the context of what is going on here? For the last few chapters, Paul has been on his way to Jerusalem and the same statement kept being given to him. “You’re going to be arrested and the Jews will turn you over to the Gentiles.” He wasn’t told that he’d be killed, but he kind of assumed it. He was told that he’d be arrested and bound.
So if you know you aren’t going to be killed by the Jewish leaders, and you just got handed back from the Romans to the Jews, you’re kind of bulletproof right now, right?
There are so many times that we think God is going to do something but it doesn’t turn out the way we expected. Sometimes we misunderstand. Sometimes we hear more with our wishes and hopes than with our discernment and obedience. Sometimes we do what we want and ask God to catch up and help us out.
Paul knows at this point he’s just in a big stupid Facebook argument. None of the Pharisees or Sadducees are open to growing or learning from him. They just want to find a way to kill him.
What he does here is the equivalent of shouting “They want to take our guns” or “They want to take away our freedom of choice!” at a town hall meeting about road construction. Instead of listening to reason, everyone draws up their political sides, puts Paul on one side or the other, and starts fighting about their politics.
Pharisees believed in spirits and angels, so they made Paul’s plight a way to justify their ideology. The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection of anybody, much less Jesus, so they were more against Paul than ever.
Paul was a genius. If that first riot didn’t get him arrested and taken to Rome, he knew where to put the salt so that the riot would get even more fired up. Whatever serious or stoic look you picture on Paul’s face, throw it out the window for this event. He’s stirring the pot and trying to get this whole crowd in trouble.
After months of hearing it from the Holy Spirit in others, that night Paul hears it from Jesus Himself. Pack your bags and your boldness, Paul. Jesus has appointed you to go to Rome.
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